gsanta1's review against another edition
3.0
A very nice picture book. It has a wonderful beginning with the oddity of having a castle in the middle of a town. Then the story continues very sweetly and finishes as a moral lesson mixed into a metaphor.
I liked the watercolors. I liked the pacing. I liked the word choices. It has the fairytale rule of threes,
Nice!
I liked the watercolors. I liked the pacing. I liked the word choices. It has the fairytale rule of threes,
Nice!
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
After seeing several tweets about the book (and having met Travis Jonker at nerdcamp), I was pleased to see that our public library already had this as an eBook, and was able to check it out immediately the day after its release. I really enjoyed what Travis wrote about the evolution of the book, the background tweets from the illustrator, Mark Pett, and the review from Margie-Myers Culver on her blog. I had already read it twice, but had still missed several details.
I wonder if any students will wonder the same thing I did: how would the guard find out Ibb's name and address without interaction with someone else? Did she leave him a note?
I wonder if any students will wonder the same thing I did: how would the guard find out Ibb's name and address without interaction with someone else? Did she leave him a note?
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this. Sweet story of being brave & curious, and stepping outside what's comfortable.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
This is an adorable book. I really enjoyed the story. From the very first page, I wanted to know what was in the castle. This book really pulls you in.
I also enjoyed the artwork. Loved the muted, watery coloring.
Ibb is a character that you immediately like. She is kind, curious, brave, and thoughtful. The plot is simple, but her personality really drives the story. Plus, it is always great to see a POC as the main character in children's books, especially a girl.
Wonderful, wonderful book.
This is an adorable book. I really enjoyed the story. From the very first page, I wanted to know what was in the castle. This book really pulls you in.
I also enjoyed the artwork. Loved the muted, watery coloring.
Ibb is a character that you immediately like. She is kind, curious, brave, and thoughtful. The plot is simple, but her personality really drives the story. Plus, it is always great to see a POC as the main character in children's books, especially a girl.
Wonderful, wonderful book.
lilythecat's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
katlogbrenn's review against another edition
3.0
If you have something special, why not share it? Unfortunately, the book itself is unremarkable.
jshettel's review against another edition
4.0
Don't judge a book by its cover or - in this case - a castle by the rumors that surround it! A book about bravery and doing your own thing. Sweet!
leslie_d's review against another edition
3.0
Ibb stops by the only remaining castle in the city every time she passes it. Across the moat, she is alone as she contemplates the mysterious castle. From the turrets, a lone guard watches people pass by.
Because no one has been in the castle, people have interpreted the sounds that come from the castle as
Snap / Snap / Snap / “monsters”
Thud / Thud / Thud / “giants.”
Hiss / Hiss / Hiss / “snakes.”
But Ibb is curious. She wonders if it’s true that the castle has monsters, giants or snakes. She wonders if the sounds could be something else. And one day she decides to no longer just wonder, but knocks on the door and, later, accept an invitation from the guard.
The Last Castle will need a second reading. Not because it is incomprehensible, but so you can delight in the hints given as to what could be causing the mysterious sounds. Hint: the silent full double page spread of the castle in winter.
I enjoyed, too, the impersonal watercolor washes to denote distance or disengagement. The first to arrive on the scene of the story with any differentiation in color, and full of texture and detail is Ibb, “then there was Ibb.” That Ibb dresses in princess gowns, tutus and wings, suggests she is like most children interested imaginative play: but she is also the one in dress-up who is interested in what is really going on—and not content with the local “lore.”
In that lovely Edenic ending, she reveals a few misunderstandings, and removes the barriers that isolate and distance the city folk and the castle guard. It’s a positive and timely message. I like that the solution is “be curious…,’ whether you are a child (like Ibb) or an adult (like the guard). I appreciate that stopping at the worst interpretation may not be the cleverest choice we can make.
Recommended for the younger mystery readers who like to be rewarded for minding the details; for those who like a good castle story; for those looking for more protagonists of color: Ibb and Alex; and an intergenerational book: there is also a grandfather (hers, and white).
Note: there is no reason for Ibb to be a Black, and no reason for her to not be. The white male creators of this book chose to center a Black female child as star of this mini hero’s journey; depicting her as curious, smart, courageous, compassionate, resisting, and a leader. It was an excellent decision.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/a-mystery-a-guard-a-guide/
Because no one has been in the castle, people have interpreted the sounds that come from the castle as
Snap / Snap / Snap / “monsters”
Thud / Thud / Thud / “giants.”
Hiss / Hiss / Hiss / “snakes.”
But Ibb is curious. She wonders if it’s true that the castle has monsters, giants or snakes. She wonders if the sounds could be something else. And one day she decides to no longer just wonder, but knocks on the door and, later, accept an invitation from the guard.
The Last Castle will need a second reading. Not because it is incomprehensible, but so you can delight in the hints given as to what could be causing the mysterious sounds. Hint: the silent full double page spread of the castle in winter.
I enjoyed, too, the impersonal watercolor washes to denote distance or disengagement. The first to arrive on the scene of the story with any differentiation in color, and full of texture and detail is Ibb, “then there was Ibb.” That Ibb dresses in princess gowns, tutus and wings, suggests she is like most children interested imaginative play: but she is also the one in dress-up who is interested in what is really going on—and not content with the local “lore.”
In that lovely Edenic ending, she reveals a few misunderstandings, and removes the barriers that isolate and distance the city folk and the castle guard. It’s a positive and timely message. I like that the solution is “be curious…,’ whether you are a child (like Ibb) or an adult (like the guard). I appreciate that stopping at the worst interpretation may not be the cleverest choice we can make.
Recommended for the younger mystery readers who like to be rewarded for minding the details; for those who like a good castle story; for those looking for more protagonists of color: Ibb and Alex; and an intergenerational book: there is also a grandfather (hers, and white).
Note: there is no reason for Ibb to be a Black, and no reason for her to not be. The white male creators of this book chose to center a Black female child as star of this mini hero’s journey; depicting her as curious, smart, courageous, compassionate, resisting, and a leader. It was an excellent decision.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2019/03/07/a-mystery-a-guard-a-guide/
morgarelibrare's review against another edition
3.0
Read at work for Picture Book Read-In 2019.
Kinda meh.
Kinda meh.